Breast Services at MedStar Franklin Square is pleased to offer an important support program that pairs volunteers who have survived cancer with newly-diagnosed breast cancer patients.

Selected and matched with the new patient by similarities in age, lifestyle and the stage of their breast cancer, the survivor shares insights into her personal breast cancer experience, while providing information and emotional support to the new patient through the course of diagnosis and treatment.

Volunteers are trained mentors who provide an invaluable “buddy support system” and help make the breast cancer journey less confusing and solitary.

Partner Support Workshop

For Spouses, Partners and Caregivers of Breast Cancer Patients

This new workshop is designed for spouses, significant others and family members of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, to provide insight into care giving and the types of support patients and their families require during a highly emotional and difficult time.

The free two-hour workshop is held quarterly at the Breast Center at MedStar Franklin Square. The sessions share support methods and ideas from books like "The Breast Cancer Husband", written by Marc Silver, and Caregiving, a book from the American Cancer Society, as well as real life survivor family learnings.

Family members and caregivers for breast cancer patients are encouraged to attend.

Transition to Wellness - Jumpstart Your Entry Into Survivorship!

A toolkit to successfully enter life after breast cancer

This workshop will provide you with coping tools and information as you near the end of your treatment and enter the wellness phase of your journey in life as a breast cancer survivor.

You have successfully completed the important treatment phase of your journey and are about to embark on a transition to newfound wellness. Many breast cancer patients encounter difficulties when contact with their medical team diminishes and may be frightened at the prospect of cancer returning. To assist you in embracing your transition to wellness, MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center encourages you to attend this free workshop that includes:

• Roundtable discussion by breast cancer survivors on the issues they faced in transitioning to wellness and how to overcome those issues.
• Checklist sharing of key health areas and lifestyle changes that can assist you as you embrace life as a survivor, improving general health and well-being.
• Wellness practitioners demonstrating new ways for incorporating lifestyle changes into your life following cancer treatment. Practitioners include: nutritionists, massage therapists, journalists, exercise instructors and more.

To learn more about the SOS program or workshops or volunteer to be a mentor, contact Edla Coleman, a survivor and SOS founder, at 443-777-2505 or Edla.V.Coleman@medstar.net.

SOS is supported by a grant from the Susan G. Komen Foundation.